By Andrew Benson Motorsport editor

Dixon has made secret of his desire to race in F1

The Williams Formula One team are to try out Indycar star Scott Dixon.

The 23-year-old New Zealander will test a Williams FW26 at the Paul Ricard track in France on 26 March.

The Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver will then have a three-day test in April at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya.

Williams need at least one new driver for the 2005 season - Juan Pablo Montoya has signed for McLaren and Ralf Schumacher is expected to go to Toyota.

Frank Williams said: "Scott is clearly very talented and it will be fascinating to see how he performs in a Formula One car.

"We are grateful to Chip Ganassi for sanctioning this test - it reflects our close and long-standing co-operation with an organisation I hold in the highest regard."

Williams are said to be facing difficulties lining up drivers for 2005.

Jaguar's Mark Webber is understood to have been their first choice, but BBC Sport understands the Australian is to be transferred to Renault by his manager Flavio Briatore, who runs the French team.

Some insiders at Williams are also interested in BAR's Jenson Button, but others are less convinced he would be the right man.

Dixon is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Montoya

McLaren driver David Coulthard has also been mentioned in connection with a return to the team for whom he last drove in 1995.

Dixon's Ganassi team have supplied Williams with two drivers in recent years.

Alex Zanardi joined Williams in 1999 after back-to-back Champ Car titles, but disappointed and left the team after one season.

He was replaced at Ganassi by Williams-contracted Montoya, who also won the Champ Car title, and has been at Williams since 2001.

However, both Zanardi and Montoya transferred from the US when they were racing in a championship that ran on F1-style road courses as well as ovals.

Dixon also raced in Champ Cars, but has been in the IRL for two years and will be out of practice on road courses.

He has made no secret of his desire to race in F1 one day and will be determined to make a major impression in his test.